The incident has reportedly enraged Warren Mayor James Fouts, whom MLive Detroit was unable to reach for comment Wednesday.

In a release obtained by the Free Press, Fouts said he considers Warren deer "a domesticated animal because their tameness and the joy they bring to observers, especially children," adding he will be "sitting in the courtroom" when he hopes the presiding judge levies the stiffest punishment under law, four years in prison for the charge of cruelty to animals.

The men were seen by a witness loading a deer into the back of a UHaul pickup truck in the area of Jenny and Knapp near the city's waste water treatment plant, where there have been prior complaints of audible gunshots and suspected illegal hunting.

Police later stopped the men in the moving truck and found blood on the hunting clothes they wore and accused them of failing to verify and tag a deer.

Further evidence was obtained from Francis' vehicle, which police found parked at a UHaul rental facility and impounded, although there is no indication in the Detroit Free Press story that a deer carcass was located or seized.

Francis possesses a valid hunting license, although hunting is prohibited in Warren.